Rugby round-up: Phillips makes timely return to boost Ospreys

Mike Phillips, whose chargedown try at Twickenham set Wales off on their Grand Slam campaign, has declared his readiness to help the champions defend their title in the New Year.

After a nine-month struggle to overcome a serious knee condition, the Ospreys scrum half marked his first start since the end of last season’s Six Nations with the try which put his team on the road to a 20-6 home win over Scarlets.

In front of a sell-out Swansea crowd of more than 20,500, Phillips’ 60th-minute strike will have been enough to confirm his name on the preliminary list of 60-plus Lions to be named next month for the South Africa tour.

Back in action: Mike Phillips return will be a boost for club and country

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The Scarlets led 6-3 at half-time, despite resting the international trio of Stephen Jones, Simon Easterby and Matthew Rees.

‘We went out to play positive rugby and we were the only side to do that,’ said Ospreys head coach Sean Holley. ‘We had a full house and we want people to come back and watch attacking rugby. We got our just rewards in the end.’

The win pushed the Ospreys up into second place in the Magners League, three points behind Munster — susprisingly beaten 12-6 by bottom of the table Connacht in Galway last night — and sets up another sell-out Welsh derby at Cardiff on Wednesday afternoon.

Leinster are three points further back in third after coming from behind to beat Ulster 21-13 in Belfast with tries from Rocky Elsom and Simon Keogh welded on to four goals from Felipe Contepomi.

Newcastle, without a Premiership win since September, surrendered a 10-point lead at home to Worcester. Instead of jumping five points clear of Bristol at the bottom, they had to settle for a 16-16 draw after Pat Sanderson’s converted try 11 minutes from time.

PETER JACKSON’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK:Nick Evans (Harlequins)

For the second time in three weeks, Harlequins proved the masters of suspense and Evans (pictured) their executioner-in-chief.

As if to prove his priceless last-kick drop goal against Stade Francais was no fluke, the Kiwi, 28, held his nerve to seal the most thrilling of draws.

He nailed two near-touchline conversions, four penalties and set up the late try for Ugo Monye. Surely the signing of the season.